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COVER STORY
ROTARYDOWNUNDER.ORG | 33 |
Premature Birth Prediction
could help millions
each year, the Rotary Club of
Auckland Harbourside, NZ,
chooses a medical cause to support
through its glamorous Chinese
New Year Gala Ball, which enlivens
the SkyCity convention centre with
dancing, fine Chinese cuisine and live
entertainment, including traditional
lion dancers.
This year’s event raised funds for
research into a mid-pregnancy blood
test able to predict premature birth –
a medical advance with the potential
to help millions of mothers and
babies worldwide.
Currently, there is no reliable way
of predicting whether a woman will
give birth early. Around 60 per cent of
premature births occur spontaneously,
without any warning or prior history.
The research undertaken by the
Liggins Institute and the University of
Auckland Medical School is on track to
change this. A pilot study identified a
unique molecular fingerprint in blood
taken from women at 20 weeks of
pregnancy who went on to give birth
prematurely; this fingerprint was not
This year’s Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside Chinese New Year Gala Ball raised
funds for research into a mid-pregnancy blood test able to predict premature birth.
present in samples taken from women
who delivered at term.
The funds raised will be directed
towards following up the pilot study
with a two-year study, which will
test a bigger pool of samples, including
samples taken at 15 weeks as well as
20 weeks.
The research has the potential for
tremendous global impact. Worldwide,
over one in 10 babies are born too
early. If born before 24 weeks, a baby’s
chance of survival is slim. Babies born
after this stage still require enormous
care and carry a greater risk in later life
of learning difficulties, cerebral palsy,
growth, obesity and diabetes.
If a reliable test for mothers can be
developed, targeted therapies could
be provided to delay or even prevent
preterm births. “This has the potential
to lead to a huge advance in clinical
practice,” said study co-lead Professor
Lesley McCowan from the Obstetrics
and Gynaecology Department at the
University of Auckland Medical School.
“Success of this project will not
only benefit New Zealand but the
whole world,” said Donald Sew
Hoy, member of the Rotary Club of
Auckland Harbourside. “We’re proud
and honoured to be asked to assist.”